Suicide up among middle-aged Americans, but why?

People with money, career and fame commit suicide all the time. Get out and
help others, volunteer, travel to truly poor countries. Stop the pity partying
and keeping up with the Jones'. This isn't the cure for all
curcumstances obviously, but it beats the selfish sell-out.

And yes,
Truthseeker, Utah has had big problems in this area that it won't deal
with.

Barb WireUSA, UT

May 15, 2013 9:42 p.m.

There is no doubt that the higher suicide rate among this age group is tied to
the recession and financial turmoil in this once great nation. In the eighties
and nineties, good paying jobs were plentiful. Now jobs are not plentiful and
pay much lower. College graduates with degrees are living in poverty because
they can't find a job they were educated for. We have no one to blame but
ourselves for letting our government become so corrupt and greedy. Things will
certainly get worse...

Kjirstin YoungbergMapleton, UT

May 15, 2013 3:39 p.m.

Some cite "reasons" as being caused by outside issues, when suicide
itself is usually a symptom of just one thing: Depression. Sadness can build to
depression as one disaster after another lands upon ones head, but once
depression is cured, it's a lot easier to deal with the other difficulties.
I speak from many years of experience, thankful my own depression has been gone
for nearly five years without a need for antidepressants. Believe me, having to
switch meds every two years is alone enough to make you feel crazy.

If you or someone you know is depressed, seek help. Hint: you may do better at
the health food store or Costco than with a psychiatrist, though they, too, have
their place. Thinking depression will "go away by itself" or "can be
prayed away with enough faith" was not true in my case. Thinking "happy
thoughts" doesn't work either. Why? Because Depression is caused by a
complex series of internal issues, and I'm not talking about "the
mind" or "mental illness" but thyroid, hormonal, brain chemistry or
other physical problems. There are solutions for everyone. Never give up. Never
surrender to suicide. It only makes things worse.

airnautEverett, 00

May 15, 2013 1:41 p.m.

Gee, let's see....

40-60 year olds had their careers outsourced
and off-shored, Had their entire life's savings vaporized and wiped
out in the Bush Recession, Can't take a job making 1/2 the pay they
used to by living at home with Mom & Dad, There is no longer a MIDDLE
class for the Middle Aged in America.

=========

@LentzehSouth Salt Lake, UT

My daughter and I are about to
publish a book that is meant to do just that.

[I hope you have
addressed the higher rate of SSRI anti-depressant medications i your book, which
help most -- but actually CAUSE and increase the risk of suicide. The FDA has
even required a black-box warning label on each and ever box stating so.]

LentzehSouth Salt Lake, UT

May 15, 2013 12:22 p.m.

No, Truthseeker, faith and a stable family are very strong protective factors.
Your reasoning doesn't look very deep at the facts, such as studies that
show that those who have a strong religious faith that values life, including
LDS, are much less likely to die by suicide than those who don't. Most of
the mountain states are significantly higher than other states, so religion is
not the cause of those higher rates. You have to take a deeper look at the sub
groups in those states to determine why. But all these studies show that it is
important for us to build stronger faith paradigms, stronger families and other
healthy support systems for more of those who suffer from suicidality. We can
save more lives no matter where suffers live or what circumstances they live
in.

My daughter and I are about to publish a book that is meant to do
just that. We have studied these things in deeper detail and hope that many
will find greater strength and peace as they read the stories in our book.
There is a better way to find solutions to the struggles we face than to give in
to suicide.

raybiesLayton, UT

May 15, 2013 10:07 a.m.

My personal belief is the unstability in the workforce. There are no secure
jobs, even when you have one. I remember when I got word of my first lay off,
having had a quality education and having seen my own parents more or less work
secure jobs their whole lives, that sense of dread and hopelessness. I had NEVER
before (despite many personal problems) considered suicide even within the realm
of possibilities, but I was so down at one point, I suddenly realized I could
empathize with those who do. You just feel so completely worthless. If you think
about it, men have very few ways to judge their self-worth.

TruthseekerSLO, CA

May 15, 2013 8:33 a.m.

Why does UT consistently rank in the top 10 of states with most suicides?

It kinda negates the "faith" and "family" theory
doesn't it?

lost in DCWest Jordan, UT

May 15, 2013 8:18 a.m.

I read the headline and thought the cause would be BO's hopeless change or
the fact that we are trying to drive God out of our society.

I read
the article and found both my assumptions to be causes cited in the article.

NoseaForest Grove, OR

May 15, 2013 7:29 a.m.

Throw people out of work in mass, blatantly discriminate against those older
than fifty, and basically give those in their fifties who are often singled out
over frivolous matters no hope of ever climbing out of the deep pit they are
thrown into, and what do you expect? I don't need a study to tell me that
suicide would increase under such circumstances, and their is a whole lot more
anxiety and ruined lives that these statistics do not even come close to
capturing.

george of the junglegoshen, UT

May 15, 2013 6:32 a.m.

After listening to someone talk about their problems makes what I thought was
bad, seam not so bad after all. some one to Listen is all we need but everyone
needs to talk. I don't want to pay to have someone listen. Just seems
wrong.